Rugby rocked by fresh rape claims

Bulldogs players relax with a game of beach cricket on the Gold Coast yesterday. Some members of their team have been accused of rape.
Picture: Janie Barrett

Gang rape allegations involving six members of a prominent Sydney rugby league team have highlighted what many see as a pervasively anti-female culture in sections of the league.

NSW police are investigating the alleged assault of a 20-year-old woman last Sunday morning at a Coffs Harbour resort where members of the Canterbury Bulldogs team were staying.

It is the second year running that Bulldogs members have faced rape allegations arising from incidents at the same resort in the lead-up to the National Rugby League season.

Rugby league, with its macho advertising and scantily dressed cheerleaders, has long cultivated an image of masculine bravado. But a picture is also surfacing of a murkier code in which players share women for sex as part of the team "bonding" process.

There are stories of prostitutes being hired for group sex, and "bonus" points being given if women are shared among mates. The practice is known as "roasting", a reference to meat being stuffed.

"The sharing of women is a bit pervasive and has developed over time," says sports psychologist Jeff Bond. "The culture that surrounds some clubs is wrong, it provides a platform for sex and violence. Clubs protect players. It is treated as 'boys being boys' and there is a cone of protection and silence.

"The players have got the income to do lots of things, they have got the time and sometimes they get bored, they don't know what to do with themselves so they turn to drink, horses and sex."

NRL chief executive David Gallop last week announced possible $1 million penalties and deregistration of players over the affair. "We are very disappointed about it and are very concerned," said Mr Gallop, who has appointed an outside security firm to investigate the weekend's activities.

"At the moment the presumption of innocence must be observed, but I am not saying that significant action will not be considered."

A picture is surfacing of a murkier code in which players share women as part of the team 'bonding' process.

The Bulldogs have introduced player curfews and cut short a trip to the Gold Coast this weekend. Coffs Harbour detectives are expected to seek DNA evidence from a number of players.

The head of psychology at the University of Canberra, Professor Bob Montgomery, said the promotion of masculine values such as toughness, aggression and competitiveness in the league had a direct correlation in promoting "side-effects" such as risky behaviour, an inability to deal with emotions, less intimate relationships and a belief that male-female relationships were adversarial.

"The risk is, without anybody intending it, that the organisation promotes a culture associated with the attitude that women are something to be used," he said.

Last year at the same Coffs Harbour resort, a 42-year-old woman alleged she was sexually assaulted after having consensual sex with a Bulldogs player.

She claimed to have woken up having unwanted sex with a second player, with a third looking on, presumably waiting his turn. The case did not proceed for lack of evidence.

The Bulldogs club rebuked the players in question, issued fines and introduced a code of conduct banning players from bringing outsiders back to the team hotel.

In 2002, players from another NRL club, the Cronulla Sharks, were investigated after a New Zealand hotel worker complained of being sexually abused. That case, too, was dropped.

Bulldog team members yesterday admitted there were wild parties and group sex during their stay at Coffs Harbour. But they insisted it was consensual, and that no serious charges would be laid once police had completed their inquiries.

The players insist none of what took place was an offence. Nor was it that unusual. One player said it was a typical night for some of the Canterbury players.

"Some of the boys love a 'bun'," said one. "Gang banging is nothing new for our club or the rugby league."

Ahead of last night's game, the players played beach cricket to take their minds off the allegations.

Pacific Bay Resort general manager Klaus Gottschalk last night confirmed that future Bulldogs team bookings in Coffs Harbour were under review.